screwdriver problem

[trish51]

I just got the screwdriver this past week.  I've been wanting to get one for awhile.  The problem is that I had it around my neck, driving down the road, when I smelled this weird smell.  At first I thought it was my car because I've been having problems with it.  I looked down and on the top of my leg was some liquid that I thought might have dripped out of the e-cigarette.  When I went to touch the atomizer part of the screwdriver, it burnt my finger it was so hot.  I quickly ripped it off my neck and unscrewed the battery part, which wasn't hot.  When I looked at the cartridge, it was melted.  Now I'm afraid to use the screwdriver.  I loved the idea of having it around my neck because I'm constantly losing things.  Has this ever happened to anyone before?  I just sold one to a customer and I'm praying that that doesn't happen to them.  I went back to my tornado for now but am bummed because I've wanted to get this one for so long.

[Khan]

Sounds to me that there might be something wrong with the switch. If, as you said, the battery was indeed not hot.. then the protected circuit is doing it's job, and you should be fairly safe.  I digress, try removing the switch, making sure it's clean and free of any debris (metal filings can get into any mass produced item and cause havoc, especially in mechanical switches)...
  Other possibility... there may have been something pushing down on the switch, inside the cap.
  Another possibility... the spring in the switch is not putting enough tension on the button... this would cause it to activate by the switch falling into the active position when it is hanging around your neck... gravity pulling on the switch and all...

  I would bet on a faulty switch.  This issue, by the way, can happen with ANY device.. your SD is just as safe as a 901  (IMO)

[TheNige]

See Scotts tutorial video for help with removing and re-assembleing the SD switch.Note the spring which should be on the outside of the body.If your spring seems a bit "un-springy",it may help to stretch it out a little.
http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.co.uk/products/electronic-cigarette-screwdriver/ecig-silver-screwdriver-kit-product.html

[prof beard]

This sounds like the switch coming unscrewed.   (It's on the video)

Undo the SD - stick your finger up the inside to the screw that holds the button - holding the screw with you finger, turn the button with you other hand - if it is obviously loose, get a real screwdriver and tighten it up.

[capt12b]

Trish, I wear a SD around my neck most of the time and have never had a false activation. I wear the SD to stood false activation and have to agree that there seems to be some problem, but the SD is a straight forward device and I am sure things can be made right. I would watch igetcha's vid, take your SD apart, and then put it all back together as shown in the vid. If the switch is set up right, I don't see how the device could false activate  

[trish51]

I think it did have to do with the screw being loose.  I know yesterday when I was selling at the flea market, it kept coming loose and I would tighten it back up with my fingers.  I just tightened tighter with a screwdriver and am going to try it again  Hopefully, that's what it was.  Thanks for all the help.

[dereck72]

The screw should be nowhere near the neg side of the battery so the circuit should be open until it makes contact.  When you reassembled the switch did you put the spring on the inside or the outside?  check along the bottom of the battery itself is the plastic all good along the bottom of the sides? if theres a tear maybe thats making contact with the side of the SD body closing the circuit....but it seems from your post it only happened once?

[trog100]

The screw should be nowhere near the neg side of the battery so the circuit should be open until it makes contact.  When you reassembled the switch did you put the spring on the inside or the outside?  check along the bottom of the battery itself is the plastic all good along the bottom of the sides? if theres a tear maybe thats making contact with the side of the SD body closing the circuit....but it seems from your post it only happened once?

the switch had come loose.. the spring is missing.. the spring is on the wrong side.. the insulation on the bottom on the battery is damaged.. or as in the last thread exactly like this one someone has put smaller MK1 batteries in it...

normally it would require the switch to unscrew and the cap to be put on for this to happen.. it has been reported..

this situation wont overload batteries.. what it does is simply heat up the outside of the atomizer.. in extremed cases it will deform the plastic cart.. its more of a whoops ouch thing than a danger.. its just what happens when the atomizer is powered up for several minutes.. heat moves from the little coil into the outside of the atomize casing.. the battery will not get hot.. just the atomizer.. there no fire hazard just the ouch factor..

mostly when the button comes unscrewed it falls on the floor and the spring gets lost.. continued daily use can make the button come loose.. a tighten or check with a real screwdriver every so often is needed.. finger tight isnt tight enough.. okay for a short while but they do need a nip up with a real screwdriver..

trog

[trish51]

After I tightened it up with a screwdriver, it's been going good for the rest of the day.  I think that is exactly what happened.  It got loose.  I didn't realize that I should have tightened it with a screwdriver.  I did it several times yesterday because it kept coming loose but it didn't actually fall off.  Maybe it's just the one I got.  I going to watch it and see.  But your right, the battery part didn't get hot at all.   Like I said, I just got it and probably didn't have it tightened properly.

[capt12b]

Glad you got yours working again  I always tighten with a screw driver after reading the threads of buttons falling off and people loosing springs. I also got a few back up buttons just so I would have the springs LOL.

On a side note Trish, I break my SD down once a week and clean all the connections. I always get some crud out of the threads and the SD seems to have more power. If nothing else, my SDs seem to enjoy the attention   

[NandyDC]

My SDII get really warn when used. I leave it alone a few days and Im using it again today with better performance. Maybe was tired of too much abuse on it.

[skroez]

Yeah I've had this same problem with my SD, with the screw becoming lose, then the spring and button tend to unscrew and pop or fall away. Each time I've lost the Springs, but found the buttons.
When the atomizer burns the cart the smell is really acrid, and yes a nasty smelly liquid do come out of the Atomizer.  I've lost Three springs, Even losing  one after I've tightened it up with a screwdriver.
I can now tend to feel if the button and screw-is getting loose, so I'll tighten it up again usually once a day

Saying that,  My SD charger has conked out on me Today.with my battery's flat, (some don't work from use too) I'm gutted too, As I got two new flavours today in the post I wanted to try.
Anyway Tomorrow I'll by buying a new SD Charger, And as none of my battery's are working, I would buy a couple of batterys but none are in stock.
I'll also be buying the Tornado to see what its like, I've been using a 501 on my SD until today. Hopefully I'll like it. I've heard good reports and read positive things about it.
Yeah if your SD tends to become lose try and tighten it each night, or the more often you use your SD the more often check how tight it is., , Check when you change the battery too, Luckily Since I've been doing that If not lost any springs and burnt out atomizers, and melted carts..
Good luck and all the best..

[mjsactor]

Had this happen to me several times.  I have 2 of the original screwdrivers (Both 8-months old) and 3 of the EN-Is (4-months/1-unopenned/1-month old).  It has only done it to me with the newer EN-I units - the originals don't seem to have this problem.  Just reach down to pick it up and it is as hot as an iron - gave me blisters on occasion.  This last time I openned up the battery compartment and the screw and spring in the button fell out - put it back together but experienced the same issue afterwards.  I believe it to be a desgn flaw in the push-button device.  I am not using the EN-I anymore - too dangerous of a flaw.  I am continuing to use the original screwdriver.   

[capt12b]

Welcome to the forum mjsactor, great to have another member of the SD club joining the forum

[StevieD]

Welcome to the forum mjsactor. Sorry you've been having problems with the SD MkII. I used to only tighten my switch assembly finger tight but then read trogs answer to another user that it needs to be tighter so I graunched it on with a 'normal' screwdriver and check it for tightness each time I change the battery and have had no problems.
Hope you resolve your issues.... if i was in the states I'd happily buy them off you